Anxiety treatment is more than simply going to therapy sessions or even taking medication.
You need much more in order to be successful and to keep your anxiety under control. This includes having a support system for stress.
When you experience stress, it can initiate a cascade effect. What seemed like a small problem at first turns into a major one. And that can leave you feeling overwhelmed, edgy, and flooded with lots of unwanted feelings.
However, by using the following key points for stress management, you can develop your own support system.
Key #1: Staying in Contact with Supportive People
One critically important component for building your support system is maintaining contact with other people. In particular, this means the people who are the most important in your life—friends and family. These are the people who know you the best and with whom you may have many shared many experiences.
You can endeavor to keep in contact with them in several ways, such as:
- Getting together for coffee
- Hanging out at a sporting event
- Enjoying game night at home
- Making regular phone calls
However, when considering who to spend time with, make sure they are friends or family members who truly understand what you are going through and can be supportive. Trying to add your distant uncle whom you really don’t know to your support system may not be the best idea.
On the other hand, your best friend from grade school whom you have known and kept in contact with your entire life will be able to much better support you as you work through your stress. Sometimes, a good friend is all that you need to feel understood.
Key #2: Helping People Who Are in Need
Another way that you can manage your own stress is by helping other people who are in need. Maybe you know someone else who is struggling with anxiety. Or you could volunteer your time and energy in your community.
Some ideas include:
- Reading to children at the local library
- Working at a food pantry or clothing donation center
- Getting dirty by building trailers or homes
- Spending time with seniors
- Serving in an afterschool enrichment program
Why is volunteering a great support system for stress? Because it feels good!
As you are helping others, you too are getting the benefits of stress management. Plus, you have the added benefit of interacting with other people who are in need and will be grateful for the work you do.
Key #3: Spending Time with Your Pets
Spending time with animals, such as your pet dog or cat, can really help with stress management. Research has shown that interacting with animals actually lowers your stress levels. This effect has been noted in studies with veterans as well as with those suffering from serious medical conditions, such as heart disease.
Now, if you don’t own a pet, it may not be the best idea to go right out and buy one. That’s not the best way for lowering your stress levels at all!
However, if you already own a pet or you know someone who does, try spending more time with the animal. Go ahead, take the dog for a long walk! Not only will the company of a pet help with your anxiety, so will the extra exercise too.
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If you are dealing with anxiety and are working on your stress management, keep in mind that you need more than one support system. Multiple support systems are needed in order to keep stress at bay and manage anxiety at the same time.
Starting with the above-mentioned three key points is a good beginning. However, always be on the lookout for new ways that will allow you to better manage stress and anxiety.
If you would like to know how my methods of anxiety treatment can help you with stress management, please click on the link.
